Workers clean up Washington Street on Wednesday. After a water main break Aug. 9, Iowa City hopes to have it open Friday morning.

Written by

Adam B Sullivan
| Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa City sees up to 100 water main breaks each year, but the rupture that shut down Washington Street last week is unique.

The break on Friday morning released about 600,000 gallons of water, Iowa City public works director Rick Fosse said. Officials hope to have the 100 block of Washington Street open by Friday morning.

"It's the magnitude of the break - not only the large diameter of the main, but it was a large break. It's about as much water as would be in a small town's water tower," Fosse said. " ... It's also unique because of the intensity of the development around it. There's so much damage ...